Southern California -- this just in

2 human feet found near site of man's head below Hollywood sign

January 18, 2012 | 5:45
pm

Los Angeles police on Wednesday afternoon found two human feet below the Hollywood sign. The discovery occurred several hours after two hands were found and a day after dogs found a man's head along a hiking trail.

Officials said they ended the search for the night but vowed to be back out in the Bronson Canyon area Thursday.

The identity of the victim -- and how he died -- has not been determined.

The head was discovered at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bronson Canyon Park near a trail below the Hollywood sign by two people walking nine dogs.

The first hand was found Wednesday morning. The second was found in the afternoon, all in the same general location in the shadow of the Hollywood sign. Then, as officials were about to leave for the day, the feet were found.

About 30 Los Angeles Police Department detectives were on the scene Wednesday, along with officers trained in searching rough terrain. They had set up a grid to comb the area in search of additional body parts.

Investigators also were going door to door along Canyon Drive to talk to neighbors about whether they witnessed anything unusual -– or if their trash had been displaced.

"We're hoping we can find more remains," said LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith.

Police believe the victim was killed somewhere else and the body was dumped. It's possible, Smith said, that a wild animal may have moved some of the body parts. The park is home to numerous coyotes.

The search is expected to resume Thursday morning.

The head was believed to be that of a man, possibly of Armenian descent, in his 40s with salt-and-pepper hair. Authorities hope to identify the man using dental records and fingerprints.